Device for washing photographic prints



Jan. 11, 1938. 1 sc 2,105,165

I DEVICE FOR WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed April 9, 1937 IIIIIIIIIIIII B Y I M A TTORNE ys.

Patented Jan. 11, 1938 2,105,165"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Frederick C. Schnelz, Detroit, Mich. Application April 9, 1937, Serial No. 135,863

4 Claims. (01. 95-97) lhe present invention relates to washing or corresponding reference characters are used to spray devices generally, and in particular prodesignate corresponding parts and in which:

vides an improved device for washing photo- Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a typical graphic prints or the like. photographic washing arrangement;

A relatively wide variety of devices have here- Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the im- 5 tofore been proposed for the purpose of washing proved washing device; and photographic negatives or prints, following the Fig. 3 is a plan view, taken along the line 33 treatment thereof with developing solutions. of Fig. 2. Conventionally, the washing operations are ef- Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be appreciated fected in trays or pans, and the devices in questhat photographic or similar washing operations 10 tion may take the form of nozzles or sprays which are conventionally effected by depositing the are designed to cause a circulation of the water negatives p ether Specimens, as the over and past the negatives or prints in order case may be, within a tray or pan II), which in to remove all traces of the developing solution turn is deposited within a collecting device such therefrom. An illustrative arrangement of this as the sink I2. The washing solution, conven- 15 kind is shown in the Nichols Patent No. 1,136,705, tionally water, is supplied to the tray Ill through granted April 20, 1915. a hose l4, and a nozzle structure I6, to the con- Devices of the Nichols type, however, as well struction and arrangement of which the present as others, of which the present applicant is invention is primarily directed. The Water is aware, are objectionable either in that they do circulated within the tray 01" pan to by the nozzle 2 not effectively maintain the water in circulation structure I6, and overflows from the tray Ill into relative to the negative or prints, in that they the sink I2. permit the-negatives or prints to become stuck Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, together, or in that they cannotreadily be ade d v c It Comprises a nozzle e e I8 justed to modify the circulating effect or to adapt which is rem v bly nd jus ly se red o he them to differing constructions of washing'trays side wall of the Dan 01' t y to by means of the or pans. The present invention is directed priclamp 20. The nozzle member I8 is illustrated marily to the provision of a washing device which as being of tubu form, One end of ch s completely overcomes all of the just noted obreceived within the end of the hose I4, and the jections, as well as others, lower end of which is closed, as by a suitable 30 With the foregoing considerations in view, plug (not shown). I Preferably and as illustrated, objects of the presentinvention are to provide at least two sepa e ows of or fices I811 and a device of the above indicated character, adapt- I b are provided in the Side W Of t tube ed to both maintain a washing solution in circu- I8, the two r ws being i ne rly spa ed rel lation and keep prints or negatives or the like tion to each other. With this arrangement, and

separated from each other; to provide such a dey rotating the HOZZIe t0 the position Shown vice which is readily adjustable to modify the in a plurality f Streams of Water y be circulating and separating effects; to provide caused to issue from the orifices I8a in a direcsuch a device which is readily adjustable to difi n n r y p l to t sid Wall I 0a of 40 ferent depths of washing trays or pans; to proe t y 0 D These Streams of Water 40 vide such a device which may be readil ecured effect a circulation of the water around the pan, to and separated from washing trays or pans of causing it to flow continuously and without subdifferent sizes and constructions; to provide such anti l t rb n e v r y negatives r prints a device embodying a clamping member adapted r h r specimens wh h may be i p d within to be secured to a washing tray or pan, and. emthe p At the Same time, a Corresponding 45 bodying a spray or nozzle member having one or s es of s s of Water y e used to more rows of orifices through which angularly issue from the orifices 58b in a direction generdisplaced streams of water may be directed to ally transverse of the wall Iiia, which streams cause a circulation within the tray or pan and of water impi g up the edges of th p ts also to cause the prints or negatives to remain or negatives and tend to flow between the suc- 50 separated from each other. cessive layers of the prints or negatives. This With the above, as well as other objects, in action is found in practice to efiectively keep the view, a preferred but illustrative embodiment of pr ts Or negatives freely separated, us i surthe invention is shown in the accompanying ing that the entire surface of each print or drawing, throughout the several views of which negative is comp y W h y the water. 55

The bracket or clamp 20 comprises a generally U-shaped body having the spaced legs 22 and 24, which are adapted to be fitted over the side wall lDa, of the tray Ill. The inner face of the leg 24 is preferably formed to abut a substantial area of the surface of the walls lOa, so that a tilting or rocking of the clamp is prevented, and the outer leg 22 is provided with a threaded opening 26, to receive a locking stud 28. The inner end of stud 28 bears against the outer face of the wall Illa, and may be turned between the locking and released position by a conventional knurled head 30. Preferably, the spacing between the legs 22 and 24 is great enough to accommodate the clamp to a pan or tray having a relatively large bead such as the bead lOb.

In order to accommodate the nozzle I8, the bracket 20 is provided adjacent its upper edge with a boss 32, which is bored to freely, slidably and rotatably receive the nozzle I8. A locking stud 34 is received within the threaded opening provided in the boss 32, and may be turned inwardly or outwardly by the knurled head 36 to either lock the nozzle la in a selected position of adjustment or to release the nozzle 18. In the locked position, it is noted that the inner end of the stud 32 bears directly against the side wall of the nozzle l8.

It will be appreciated that the complete device may be readily and economically manufactured. It will also be appreciated that it may be readily and quickly applied to and removed from trays or pans of widely varying constructions, and that, in the clamped position on a tray or pan, it is rigidly held against tilting or rocking. It will also be appreciated that the provision of the adjustment between the nozzle 18 and the bracket 20 permits the nozzle [8 to be adjusted both vertically, to accommodate it to pans or trays of differing depth, and also permits it to be rotative- 1y adjusted to selectively control the direction of flow of the sprays or streams of water from the several rows of orifices.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, as well as a specific application or use therefor, it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to uses other than those specified, and may be embodied in forms differing widely from the illustrated form.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, for use with a tray or like container adapted to receive photographic specimens or the like, a combination of a tubular nozzle member adapted to be projected into said tray, said nozzle member having a first substantially vertical row of orifices through which liquid may be discharged to effect a circulation within the container, and having a second substantially vertical row of orifices through which liquid may be discharged in substantially horizontal streams to maintain said specimens in a separated condition, said rows being angularly displaced from each other.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular nozzle adapted to project into a tray or like container and having one or more orifices in the side wall thereof through which liquid may be projected into said container, a bracket having a boss within which said tubular nozzle is rotatably and slidably received, said bracket having a U-shaped portion adapted to fit over the side of said container, and means for locking said bracket to said container and for locking said nozzle within said bracket.

3. A device for use in the washing of photographic prints comprising, in combination, a bracket adapted to engage over the side of a container, means for releasably and rigidly securing said bracket to the side of said container, a nozzle member provided with a plurality of orifices therein adapted to eject streams of liquid therefrom in the same general plane, said nozzle member being axially adjustable relative to said bracket whereby to permit its vertical relation with respect to the bottom of said container to be varied, and means for releasably and rigidly securing said nozzle member in axially adjusted relation with respect to said bracket.

4. A device for use in the washing of photographic prints comprising, in combination, a bracket adapted to engage over the side of a container, means for releasably and rigidly securing said bracket to the side of said container, a nozzle member provided with a plurality of orifices therein adapted to eject streams of liquid therefrom in the same general plane, said nozzle member being rotatably adjustable relative to said bracket whereby to permit the angular relation of said streams with respect to said container to be varied, and means for releasably and rigidly securing said nozzle member in rotatably adjusted relation with respect to said bracket.

FREDERICK C. SCHNELZ. 

